diff --git a/src/core/execution/WarshipExecution.ts b/src/core/execution/WarshipExecution.ts
index 05ece46bf..bd29e5521 100644
--- a/src/core/execution/WarshipExecution.ts
+++ b/src/core/execution/WarshipExecution.ts
@@ -634,29 +634,59 @@ export class WarshipExecution implements Execution {
   private huntDownTradeShip() {
     this.warship.updateWarshipState({ isInCombat: true });
     for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
-      // target is trade ship so capture it.
-      const result = this.pathfinder.next(
-        this.warship.tile(),
-        this.warship.targetUnit()!.tile(),
-        5,
-      );
+      const target = this.warship.targetUnit()!;
+      const targetTile = target.tile();
+      const dist = this.mg.manhattanDist(this.warship.tile(), targetTile);
+
+      if (dist <= 5) {
+        this.warship.owner().captureUnit(target);
+        this.warship.setTargetUnit(undefined);
+        this.warship.touch();
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // When close, the minimap (2x scale) produces diagonal upscaled paths that
+      // make it hard to converge. Use direct greedy movement instead.
+      if (dist <= 20) {
+        const nextTile = this.bestNeighborToward(targetTile);
+        if (nextTile !== undefined) {
+          this.warship.move(nextTile);
+          continue;
+        }
+      }
+
+      const result = this.pathfinder.next(this.warship.tile(), targetTile, 5);
       switch (result.status) {
         case PathStatus.COMPLETE:
-          this.warship.owner().captureUnit(this.warship.targetUnit()!);
+          this.warship.owner().captureUnit(target);
           this.warship.setTargetUnit(undefined);
-          this.warship.move(this.warship.tile());
+          this.warship.touch();
           return;
         case PathStatus.NEXT:
           this.warship.move(result.node);
           break;
-        case PathStatus.NOT_FOUND: {
+        case PathStatus.NOT_FOUND:
           console.log(`path not found to target`);
           break;
-        }
       }
     }
   }
 
+  private bestNeighborToward(targetTile: TileRef): TileRef | undefined {
+    const warshipTile = this.warship.tile();
+    let best: TileRef | undefined;
+    let bestDist = this.mg.manhattanDist(warshipTile, targetTile);
+    this.mg.forEachNeighbor(warshipTile, (neighbor) => {
+      if (!this.mg.isWater(neighbor)) return;
+      const d = this.mg.manhattanDist(neighbor, targetTile);
+      if (d < bestDist) {
+        bestDist = d;
+        best = neighbor;
+      }
+    });
+    return best;
+  }
+
   private patrol() {
     if (this.warship.targetTile() === undefined) {
       this.warship.setTargetTile(this.randomTile());
diff --git a/tests/Warship.test.ts b/tests/Warship.test.ts
index c88664f2e..ffb7dbcd2 100644
--- a/tests/Warship.test.ts
+++ b/tests/Warship.test.ts
@@ -852,4 +852,71 @@ describe("Warship", () => {
     game.executeNextTick();
     expect(warship.tile()).not.toBe(tileBeforeCombat);
   });
+
+  test("Warship captures trade ship immediately when already within capture range", async () => {
+    // Trade ship is within Manhattan distance 5 — should be captured on the first tick
+    // via the dist <= 5 fast path in huntDownTradeShip, without needing pathfinding.
+    player1.buildUnit(UnitType.Port, game.ref(coastX, 8), {});
+    const warship = player1.buildUnit(
+      UnitType.Warship,
+      game.ref(coastX + 1, 8),
+      {
+        patrolTile: game.ref(coastX + 1, 8),
+      },
+    );
+    const tradeShip = player2.buildUnit(
+      UnitType.TradeShip,
+      game.ref(coastX + 1, 11), // Manhattan distance 3 from warship
+      {
+        targetUnit: player2.buildUnit(UnitType.Port, game.ref(coastX, 11), {}),
+      },
+    );
+
+    const execution = new WarshipExecution(warship);
+    const executionInternals = execution as unknown as {
+      findTargetUnit: () => typeof tradeShip | undefined;
+    };
+    execution.init(game, game.ticks());
+    vi.spyOn(executionInternals, "findTargetUnit").mockReturnValue(tradeShip);
+
+    expect(tradeShip.owner().id()).toBe(player2.id());
+    execution.tick(game.ticks());
+    expect(tradeShip.owner()).toBe(player1);
+  });
+
+  test("Warship uses greedy pursuit to capture trade ship within 20 tiles", async () => {
+    // Trade ship is within the 20-tile greedy range but outside the 5-tile instant-capture
+    // range. The warship should use direct neighbor movement (not minimap pathfinding)
+    // and close the gap cleanly.
+    player1.buildUnit(UnitType.Port, game.ref(coastX, 3), {});
+    const warship = player1.buildUnit(
+      UnitType.Warship,
+      game.ref(coastX + 1, 3),
+      {
+        patrolTile: game.ref(coastX + 1, 3),
+      },
+    );
+    const tradeShip = player2.buildUnit(
+      UnitType.TradeShip,
+      game.ref(coastX + 1, 13), // Manhattan distance 10 — within greedy range
+      {
+        targetUnit: player2.buildUnit(UnitType.Port, game.ref(coastX, 13), {}),
+      },
+    );
+
+    const execution = new WarshipExecution(warship);
+    const executionInternals = execution as unknown as {
+      findTargetUnit: () => typeof tradeShip | undefined;
+    };
+    execution.init(game, game.ticks());
+    vi.spyOn(executionInternals, "findTargetUnit").mockReturnValue(tradeShip);
+
+    expect(tradeShip.owner().id()).toBe(player2.id());
+    // 10 tiles at 2 steps/tick = 5 ticks minimum
+    for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
+      execution.tick(game.ticks());
+      if (tradeShip.owner() === player1) break;
+    }
+    expect(tradeShip.owner()).toBe(player1);
+  });
 });